Munition



Oct. 28, 1952 F|E$ER r AL 2,615,396

' MUNITIQN Filed May 22, 1944 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 Fig. 2'

Patented Oct. 28, 1952 MUNIT IQN.

Louis F. Fieser, Belmont, and Emanuel B. Hershberg, Stoughton, Mass.,assignors to the United States of America as represented by theSecretary of the Army Application May 22, 1944, Serial No. 536,799

- 1 Claim.

The invention described herein maybe manufactured and used by or for theGovernment, for governmental purposes, without the payment to us of anyroyalty thereon.

This invention relates particularly to a small incendiary munitionsuited for concealment, safe carrying in a persons pocket, and efficientfunctioning as a fire starter.

A pocket-size fire starter is very useful in warfare for destroyingmaterial whichmi'ght be captured by the enemy'and other fire startingpurposes.

In. the development of a pocket-size fire starter definitely effectivefor military use, a number of requirements were established.Fundamentally, the requirements are: (1) easy fabrication and filling;(2) high fuel content for a given Weight; (3) safety in carrying; (4)positive ignition under divers conditions, e. g., at low temperaturesand after water immersion; and (5) adequate incendiary action withsuitable time and temperature in burning.

A general object of the invention is to provide a pocket-size firestarter conforming to the'fundamental requirements in as nearly an idealmanner as possible. Further specific objects will becom apparent in thefollowing-description. v

One significant feature of the invention isth utilization of acombustible plastic case which is easily manufactured, durable,resistant to an oilbasefuel filling, light in weight, and which has adistinctly favorable eifect on the burning of the fuel.

A case of exceptional effectiveness is constructed of cellulose nitrateplastic containing about 11% or more nitrogen-with about 25 to 30%camphor as a plasticizer and. with sufficient pigment or filler to givethe compounded plastic a relatively high ash content. Preferably, theamount of fully calcined ash is about 1% or in the range of'about .5 to2With respect to the functioning of the preferred type of plastic in thecase, it is of interest to observe that upon ignition the case burnsuniformly to form a porous shell of ash components and that theincandescent-shell has a wick-like and surface combustion action whichresults in a concentrated hum of prolonged high temperature.

The plastic case-may be made in various shapes and sizes and beprovidedwith igniters of various types and positions; but certainarrangements and treatments have been found to be important factors forincreasing the efliciency of the munition, as will be further explained.

'For-a detailed explanatiomreference made to the drawing whichillustrates two usual forms of the munition embodying principles andfeatures of the invention.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 shows an enlarged longitudinal crosssection view of a firestarter having an extremely simple form;

Figure 2 shows an enlarged top plan view of the fire starter illustratedin Figure 1 for showing a detachable sealing means used thereon;

Figure 3 shows a partly sectioned plan View of a pocket incendiaryhaving a fiat case form with an attached igniter;

Figure 4 shows an end elevation view of the flat form unit illustratedin Figure 3;

Figure 5 is an enlarged elevational view of the igniter shown in theassembly of Figures 3 and 4 detached from its casing;

Figure 6 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of the igniter.

In. the drawings similar parts bear the same numerals.

Referring to the drawings, particularly to Figures 1 and .2, I is aflammable plastic case molded to a cylindrical shape. Near one end,designated as the top for convenience, the case has a plastic partition2 which acts as an end wall for the oil fuel chamber 3 and. as aseat'for the match-head or button 5, outside the chamber 3 and surrounded by the extended plastic side wall 4 of case I. At the otherend ofcase i, designated as the bottom, the chamber 3 has a plastic closuredisc 6 which is securely cemented to the side walls of the casebycollodion (cellulose nitrate in acetone) after chamber 3 has beencharged with the desired fuel. I

The match-head 5 is conveniently assembled to a kraft paper disc orwasher 1 and adhesively bonded to the outer side of partition 2.

A suitable match-head composition is a uniform mixture of about 50 partspotassium chlorate (100% through No. -U. S. Standard sieve), about 30parts antimony sulfide (100% through No. sieve), and about 20 partsdextrin through No. -80 sieve), the proportions being in parts byweight.

The match-head mixture described is made into'a plastic paste by addingwater, formed into rolls which are cut .into discs ,1 inch long and inchin diameter. A disc still in plastic state is placed in the upper hollowportion of the case and the kraft paper disc 1 is pressed down-on top ofthe mix to form the button 5 with a thin layer of the mix below the discadhering to the cellulose Percent Phosphorus Sand 30 Dextrin a 20 Thescratcher block 8 is placed over the match- 4 low or depression 58 atthe side is attached to case I3. The depression may also be at the topor bottom of the case.

The igniting capsule I! may have any suitable firing means associatedwith it, e. g., a pull-wire scratcher or, as illustrated in Figure 6, atimed firing mechanism. I

The ignition tube, in general, has the shape of a pencil or narrow tubeand is attached to the case by cemented clip 59. At one end of the tubeis the flammable plastic capsule l1 containing a friction orstrike-anywhere match-head 45. A protective plastic-disc l9 closes oneend of the capsule and aneedle-point firing pin 20 is in headcompartment with the coated surface 9 away from the match-head 5. Aplastic or thin metal cap 10, e. g. No. 30 standard gage steel withlacquer coating, is slipped over the scratcher block 8 onto the sides ofthe case and is sealed by the overlapping waterproof adhesive tape H.The adhesive tape ll encircles the cap l0 sealing its edge. At its outerend, ta-pe H is overlapped on itself to form a pull tab l2 forconvenience of the user in removing the tape, cap and scratcher block insetting the fire starter in action.

Preferably, before putting the scratcher block 8 in place, the body ofthe fire starter is loaded with a fuel mixture through the opening atthe bottom and the closing disc 6 is cemented to the body over thisopening.

After the fire starter is fully assembled, the entire assembly may bedipped into a 5% solution of Vinylite (a copolymer of vinyl acetate andvinyl chloride) in acetone. The clip coating is intended to render theunit fire-resistant and more waterproof. Other types of non-inflammablecoatings may be used, c. g., a solution of 16 parts Vinylite and 4 partsbutylmethacrylate in 80 parts of ethyl acetate, or an acetone solutionof polyvinylacetate.

To use the fire starter, match-head 5 is ignited by friction from thescratcher coating 9 on the scratcher block 8. The burning match-headinitiates combustion of the case which becomes an incandescent mass ofconcentrated heat until the entire charge is consumed. Preferably, thecase should burn without forming a large luminous flame.

The fuel charge 3 in the case may be a viscous liquid, a gel or solid.

A recommended filling is a 7-15% gel of a soap thickener in kerosene.The soap may be a 1 to 1 mixture of aluminum naphthenate and aluminumpalmitate, a mixture comprising coprecipitated aluminum stearate andaluminum oleate, and various other soaps capable of gelling liquidhydrocarbon fuels. In general, the preferred soaps are normally solidmixtures of aluminum soaps in granular form.

The fuel may contain flammable resins, asphalt, dispersed finely-dividedmetal, such as powdered magnesium, or other thickening andheat-increasing additives.

The flat form of fire starter shown in Figures 3 and 4 comprises a casel3 having two parts I3a and i317 constructed of flammable plastic,preferably a cellulose nitrate plastic. The parts l3a and [3b arecemented together at flanges 14 by collodion (cellulose nitrate andacetone). One part of the case, 13a, has a filling hole l5 covered by acellulose nitrate disc I6 cementedby collodion to seal the hole l5 afterloading. An igniting agent a capsule or container placed in aholalignment with the match-head and in position to pierce the disc l9and penetrate the matchhead 45 when released.

The' match-head 45 may be attached to the point of an ordinary officepin 2|, the head of the pin being cemented to a plastic disc 22 whichforms the base of the igniter tube and closes the capsule l1.Satisfactory operation has been obtained in using a match-head fromcommercial strike-anywhere matches sold for household use. However, toinsure more efiicient functioning, the match-head pellet 45 is embeddedin Celluloid cement or in a cement of Glyptal resin and ethyl acetatewith an added mixture of potassium chlorate and antimony sulfide,preferably about 12 parts of KClOz and 1 .part of SbSa. The match-headand ignitible cement filling I8 are thus fully protected from air andmoisture in tubular capsule I 1. This short tubular compartment orcapsule is fastened to a relatively longer brass tube I6b by extendingtelescopically therein with crimping'at 23 and application of collodioncement between the overlapping walls.

A readily available commercial phonograph needle serves as firing pin20, which is set into a brass block 24 normally held against thepressure of a compressed sprin 25 by a looped wire 26 under tension toact as a restraining member. The wire 26 is looped through a small hole21 in a projecting boss end of block 24. A brass washer 28 is disposedon the shoulder of the block 24 surrounding theboss to keep the block ina central position with relation to the spring 25 and the, sides ofthetube 16b. The other end of the looped wire 26 under tension is woundaround the stem of a brass screw 29 which is screwed tightly against alead washer 30 and into a brass plug 3| at the end of the tube [6aopposite the capsule I'I.

A brass partitioning plug 32 is interposed between two sections I 6a and16b of the igniter tube to act as a base for-one end of the spring 25and to furnish a support for a glass ampoule 33 in the end section Mia.The partitioning plug 32 has a projection 34 and a groove 35 to serve asfastening to the brass tube [6b and copper tube 16a and for thus fixingthe plug, in position. Modeling clay, such as Plasticine or equal, isplaced in the groove 35 to serve as a plastic seal 36. The looped wire26 is passed through a hole 31 bored through the partitioning plug 32and penetrating through the clay seal 36. Tufts of absorbent cotton orsimilar material are placed at both ends of the glass ampoulecompartment with copper tube "5a to serve as cushioning supports 38 and39 for the glass ampoule 33 in order to prevent breakage of the ampouleby normal or accidental jarring.

The looped tension wire 26 which acts as a restraining member may be atinned piano wire having a diameter of about 0.014 inch. This wire maybe made of any suitablematerial and of tatuses proper size to withstandcorrosive action-.;of.-:'-a

froinla-zgood 0.015 to 0.025 cm..and contains about /z cci of acorrosive liquid, such as a solution of CuGlhZHz-O,

distilled water and varied amounts ofglycerol,

depending .onthe rate of corrosion or: timing desired. For example, thesolution may haveia composition of about .15 partsby weight of thecupric chloride dihydrate and'about 85 parts by weight of watercontaining up to about M parts by weight of glycerol with about parts byweight of cupric salt and about 1'6 parts-by weight of water.

A thin pliable strip of metal 40, e. g., brass, passed through a slot Mlocated between the firing pin 28 in a restrained position and thematch-head capsule ll, acts as an additional safety for preventing thefiring pin from piercing the capsule, if by any possibility the firingpin is set in motion prematurely. This strip is removed in arming thefire starter.

The holes 42 and 43 located in the brass tube it?) serve as vent holesfor gaseous products of combustion evolved from the ignited match-head.The vent holes may be left open or be sealed with waterproof tape toprevent access of water and dirt before the fire starter is being armedand made ready for use.

The brass tube section 161) extending from the partitioning plug 32 tothe match-head capsule H and inclosing the firing mechanism preferablyhas thicker walls, about 0.03 inch, than the copper tube section ltawhich extends from the partitioning plug 32 to the screw head 29 andsurrounds the glass ampoule 33. The copper tube section ltd may have awall thickness of about 0.005 inch so that it yields to a sufficientpressure of about lbs, per square inch between a persons fingers withthe result that the tube is bent and crushes the glass ampoule 33,thereby releasing the corrosive liquid contents for contacting andcorroding the restraining wire 26 in a predetermined length of time.

For operating the fire starter with the igniter tube having a delayedaction firing mechanism, tape is removed from vent holes 42 and 43, thebent safety strip 46 is straightened and removed from the slot 4|, thecopper tube section lBa is pressed until the glass ampoule 33 is brokento release the corroding liquid into contact with the restraining wire25, and the unit is planted or thrown to where it is intended to startincendiary action. After a period of about 15 minutes or as long as 25hours, predetermined by the strength of the corroding liquid releasedfrom broken ampoule 33 and the corrosion-resistance of the restrainingwire 26, this wire is ruptured by corrosion and releases the firingmechanism. The released firing pin in block 24 is forced by thecompressed spring 25 to move abruptly toward the capsule H. The needlepoint of the firing pin in moving pierces the match-head capsule cover[9, then pierces the match-head 65, causing the match-head to ignite andstart the burning of the flammable capsule H, which in turn starts theburning of the incendiary case and its fuel contents 53. Thus theignition takes place noiselessly with very little friction by the sharppoint of the needle puncturing the capsule and penetrating into thematch-head.

By constructing the fuel case [3a and I3?) from a suitable cellulosenitrate plastic, the incendiary is made-to produce an intense heat. Ablack virgin stock cellulose nitrate with camphor plasticizer andsufficient pigment and/0r filler burns silently without making a brightflame.

While the different members of the igniter, such as the delayed timingmeans, the restraining means, the firing means, and the flammablecapsule, have been described as functioning together in a unit, each ofthese, members maybe modified .or, in some instances be omitted withoutdisturbing the functioning of the others. For example, the delayedtiming may be omitted by removing screw 29 and straightening the end ofthe wire 26 so that the wire is free to move and directly releasethe'firing mechanism. -In-'p'lace of the mechanical firing means, achemical may be used to initiate the burning of the material in thecapsule, for example, after a reagent, such as dilute or concentratedsulfuric acid in glass ampoule 33 is released by fracturing the ampoule,this reagent may be made to flow directly into contact with anotherreactive chemical or to corrode through a partitioning member, such as athin corrodible disc, to come into contact with another substance andthereupon produce an igniting flame.

A mixture consisting in one part hexamethylene tetramine with two partsof sodium peroxide forms a combustible known as Scheelite, which may beused as the chemical in the firing compartment of the igniter. Thismixture is ignited when contacted by sulfuric acid.

In another adaptation, the glass ampoule similar to ampoule 33 maycontain a substance which is spontaneously ignitible in air, as, forexample, divinyl acetylene, diethyl zinc, triethyl boron or the like,without a mechanical firing mechanism but with provision for access ofair and contact of the igniting fluid with a combustible plastic part ofthe igniter. On the other hand, such substances which are spontaneouslyignitible in the air may be contained within an hermetically sealed bulbor capsule replacing the match-head capsule I! in alignment with thefiring mechanism to obtain advantages of the delayed action mechanismand the safety means.

Although the described type of incendiary is particularly suitable as apocket-size fire starter, it may be adapted for other uses, as, forexample, as a unit in a scatter-type aerial bomb. In this adaptation,any number of units comprising hydrocarbon fuel-charged flammableplastic cases having individually attached igniters which inflame thecases upon rupturing may be scattered from a clustering body or a numberof the cases may be expelled from an impacted tail-ejection bomb. Theplastic cases may have an hexagonal or triangular shape for fitting intoa bomb body of standardized shape.

It is to be understood that although the invention has been describedwith reference particularly to the illustrated fire starter units, othermodifications come within the spirit andscope of the invention.

We claim:

An incendiary fire starter including a flammable nitrate cellulose caseprovided with a compartment, a charge of gelled hydrocarbon fuel in saidcompartment, and a matchhead composition, said compartment having aplurality of solid nitrate cellulose wall portions completely enclosingsaid charge in said compartment in a fluid tight manner, said matchheadcomposition being secured in direct contact with an outer surface of oneof said wall portions and at a dis- 7 tance from the interior of saidchamber de- Number termined by the thickness of the wall portion1,327,899 to which said composition is attached. 1,329,503 LOUIS F.FIESER. 1,486,014 EMANUEL B. HERSHBERG. 5 1,484,190 1,539,609 REFERENCESCITED 2,034,020 The following references are of record in the 2,294,415file of this patent: 2,328,277 UNITED STATES PATENTS 2383306 Number NameDate 506,548 Rockwell Oct. 10, 1893 u b r 795,632 Matthew July 25, 1905152,972 960,094 Jackson May 31, 1910 u 5 8 Name Date Bemisderfer Jan.13, 1920 Casey 1 Feb. 3, 1920 Dutcher Mar. 4, 1924 Ray Feb. 19, 1924Taylor May 26, 192-5 Branchen Mar. 17, 1936 McBride Sept. 1, 1942 HuntAug. 31, 1943 Zimmer et a1. Aug. 28, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Country DateGreat Britain 1920 France Sent. 11. 1939

